A Belfast man today admitted murdering a 41-year-old who was battered with a guitar.

The body of Matthew Goddard was discovered in the living room of his Chobham Street home on December 23, 2014.

At the time of his death, PSNI revealed Mr Goddard has been the victim of a brutal attack and had been beaten with a number of items including his guitar.

Three men have been charged with Mr Goddard’s murder, and until today all three denied a charge of murder.

However, at Belfast Crown Court today a barrister acting on behalf of one of the accused asked that his client be re-arraigned.

When the murder charge was put to William Turner for a second time, he replied ‘guilty’. The 37-year old, from Glenlea Grove in Belfast, also admitted assaulting another man on December 23, 2014 and causing his grievous bodily harm.

Following the guilty pleas, the defence barrister asked for pre-sentence reports to be compiled on Turner, who was then remanded back in to custody by Mr Justice Treacy.

Two men are now facing trial over the murder of Mr Goddard. James Henry Turner, 30, - who is William Turner’s younger brother and from Dunraven Court in Belfast - denies the murder, and also causing grievous bodily harm to other man on the same date.

He is facing trial alongside co-accused Christian Walker . The 36-year old, from Milebush Close in Carrickfergus, has also been charged with - and denies - murdering Mr Goddard.

The court was informed by a Crown barrister that the trial of James Turner and Christian Walker is due to commence next week.